When Like Doesn't Mean Like.

[Artemis Windsong]

EEgulls must know!
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August 20, 2012 12:15 am • By KEITH DARNAY(0) Comments

When you click the “like” button on Facebook, what exactly are you liking?

More importantly, what exactly are you saying or implying when you click the “like” button?

Defining what “like” means when you “like” something has suddenly become an issue that touches on freedom of speech, political views and personal choice.

You may not like what other people think you like when you “like” something on Facebook.

Pressing “like” can mean many things other than simply liking the page or the person.

For example, if I press the “like” button on President Obama’s Facebook page, that doesn’t necessarily mean I personally like Obama or support his presidency or back his policies.

I can be a dyed in the wool Republican, a hard core conservative or a strong willed Tea Party member, but I still might press Obama’s “like” button.

Why?

Because when you “like” a page, you’re notified of updates to that page.

From a political perspective, it keeps me informed on what the other side is saying and doing.

It’s prudent political intelligence.

I may click the “like” button on a Facebook page because I get to then download a free app by doing so. Many companies try to beef up the number of their “likes” by offering incentives to click their “like” buttons.

Or I may get a discount coupon to a fast food restaurant by “liking” the restaurant’s Facebook page.

That doesn’t mean you actually like the businesses — you’re doing it for the rewards.

There are a lot of reasons for “liking” a page that have nothing to do with actually liking the page.

In the digital world, like doesn’t always mean “like.”

So if “liking” a Facebook page can have so ambiguous a meaning, is the act of pressing the “Like” button a form of free speech?

That’s what a former sheriff's deputy in Virginia is trying to argue.

During a race for the Hampton County sheriff post in 2009, he and five other deputies clicked the “like” button on the Facebook page of the man running against the incumbent sheriff.

The sheriff won re-election and the six deputies were fired. One deputy filed suit, claiming the act of “liking” the opposing candidate was free speech and he shouldn’t have been fired for exercising his constitutional right to expressing his opinion.

But a district judge ruled that, “merely ‘liking’ a Facebook page is insufficient speech to merit constitutional protection.”

In other words, hitting the “like” button is not enough of a substantial act to be clearly seen as political expression.

Again, pressing the “like” button can be done so for many reasons that have nothing to do with actually liking the page or the person behind the page.

The former deputy is appealing the decision.

We’re in a digital era where the act of pressing a button has countless meanings above and beyond what the button itself says or what the button designer had in mind.

What you had in mind when you pressed a button may not be how others interpret your reason or meaning for pressing the button.

That split second of button pushing could have implications in your life for years to come.

In this age of instant access, rapid communication and immediate response, it is all the more important to take your time and think about what your actions actually mean and what the consequences might be before doing something as seemingly innocuous as clicking a button online

[Deleted]

www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-related.html

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...oh. my. word...


...this should totally go into the P&tM forum, too... I'd love to see what those sharks do with this water...

[Deleted]

The real question is do you like him like him, or do you just like him?

[Deleted]

I don't LIKE anything so no worries here!

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

kwgn.com/2012/08/10/virginia-sheriffs-deputy-fired-over-facebook-like-2/

"Facebook itself also has weighed in with a brief to the court, saying that a “like” for a political candidate is “the 21st-century equivalent of a front-yard campaign sign.”"

...I totally disagree with FB on this one, too...

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 15:27:39 GMT -5 BeenThere...DoneThat... said:

kwgn.com/2012/08/10/virginia-sheriffs-deputy-fired-over-facebook-like-2/

"Facebook itself also has weighed in with a brief to the court, saying that a “like” for a political candidate is “the 21st-century equivalent of a front-yard campaign sign.”"

...I totally disagree with FB on this one, too...

Heck no, all future presidents should be elected on FB.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

..okay, this one clarifies the FB position... better, imo...


www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/5907196-ACLU-backs-deputies-fired-for-Facebook-likes/

"If Carter had stood on a street corner and announced, `I like Jim Adams for Hampton sheriff,' there would be no dispute that his statement was constitutionally protected speech," the company wrote in a friend of the court brief filed with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "Carter made that very statement; the fact that he did it online, with a click of a computer's mouse, does not deprive Carter's speech of constitutional protection."

Facebook and the ACLU want the appeals court to vacate the judge's decision. The ACLU also is advocating on behalf of the other fired workers who did not click `Like' but who are also appealing.

[femmefatale]

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Aug 21, 2012 15:22:46 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

The real question is do you like him like him, or do you just like him?

...or do you just like him to get his tweets in your feed so that you can cut and paste them into message boards as conversation fodder...

[Deleted]

"liking" your bosses opponent on facebook is a stupid move. Stupid enough to be fired for apparently. I have no sympathy for stupid people especially when it comes to what they post and make public on Facebook or other forms of social media.

Does the ACLU have nothing better to do?

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 15:35:07 GMT -5 @femmefatale said:

Don't just sit there, give me some karma so I can get my 2000 badge.

[femmefatale]

Aug 21, 2012 15:40:24 GMT -5 @joey said:

Aug 21, 2012 15:35:07 GMT -5 @femmefatale said:

Don't just sit there, give me some karma so I can get my 2000 badge.

Sorry, Missy...I have 54 minutes before I re-charge. Just eat the popcorn and you'll get your badge in 54 minutes. ;D

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 15:41:29 GMT -5 @femmefatale said:

Aug 21, 2012 15:40:24 GMT -5 @joey said:

Don't just sit there, give me some karma so I can get my 2000 badge.

Sorry, Missy...I have 54 minutes before I re-charge. Just eat the popcorn and you'll get your badge in 54 minutes. ;D

Snap, I hate waiting.
I just gave you some K. Lets get you over the hump today too. I hear they are pretty badges, all sparkly and stuff.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Aug 21, 2012 15:39:15 GMT -5 @joey said:

"liking" your bosses opponent on facebook is a stupid move. Stupid enough to be fired for apparently. I have no sympathy for stupid people especially when it comes to what they post and make public on Facebook or other forms of social media.

Does the ACLU have nothing better to do?

...here's where we'll have to disagree... in the FB age, I think anyone should be able to like/subscribe/read all candidates' FB statuses and Tweets... they campaign there... to hold it against anybody for listening to the loser before he loses the election is wrong... imo...

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 15:42:54 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

The OP is WAY too long for me to read... is it worth it?

(Now others who agree with me would "Like" my post if this was on FB... as an example)

If you want to save ten thousand puppies hit LIKE.

[Deleted]

I have a feeling the judges decision will be overuled. If donating money to a political campaign is considered free speech, then surely "liking" something on FB is free speech as well.

[femmefatale]

Aug 21, 2012 15:43:20 GMT -5 @joey said:

Aug 21, 2012 15:41:29 GMT -5 @femmefatale said:

Sorry, Missy...I have 54 minutes before I re-charge. Just eat the popcorn and you'll get your badge in 54 minutes. ;D

Snap, I hate waiting.
I just gave you some K. Lets get you over the hump today too. I hear they are pretty badges, all sparkly and stuff.

Pfft...I highly doubt we get badges, but we already know how special we are anyways, right?

[femmefatale]

Aug 21, 2012 15:43:45 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I really miss the "dislike" option... it way more fun disliking what people say than it is to like it... ;D

I so agree, MM...pisses people off.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Aug 21, 2012 15:45:44 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

I have a feeling the judges decision will be overuled. If donating money to a political campaign is considered free speech, then surely "liking" something on FB is free speech as well.

...one would think so...

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Aug 21, 2012 15:43:45 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I really miss the "dislike" option... it way more fun disliking what people say than it is to like it... ;D

Ooops - maybe I should have said

[Deleted]

FB only allows you to like things. That clearly discriminates against you haters.

[femmefatale]

Aug 21, 2012 15:50:15 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

But that's the point, JA.. there used to be a dislike option... like SL illustrated you could give a .... *sigh*... the good old days...

I must have started after that. I've been on Facebook 4 years, i think. When did they stop it?

And I'm not a hater, Apps! But I like screwing with some people!

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 15:52:00 GMT -5 @femmefatale said:

Aug 21, 2012 15:50:15 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

But that's the point, JA.. there used to be a dislike option... like SL illustrated you could give a .... *sigh*... the good old days...

I must have started after that. I've been on Facebook 4 years, i think. When did they stop it?

And I'm not a hater, Apps! But I like screwing with some people!

Give the ACLU a call femme. ;D

[femmefatale]

ACLU?

[Loopdilou]

I try to write disclaimers when I 'like' pages that seem out of the norm for me. I would prefer they change it to 'follow'.

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 16:03:58 GMT -5 Loopdilou said:

I try to write disclaimers when I 'like' pages that seem out of the norm for me. I would prefer they change it to 'follow'.

Good idea, Pinterest does that. You can like or you can follow.

[wyouser]

Badges???Badges? Posters with badges?? Is this a raid? Whatever it was...I didnt post it!!It was that other dude!!! I wasn't even here...I was watching the Snow Leopards on Virgils Post.